Locking type blind, shutter, and the like



Oct. 20, 1942. A. D. KNOX LOCKING TYPE BLIND, SHUTTER, AND THE LIKEFiled May 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 ||.L QIIIIL PIIILLilli.

Oct. 20, 1942. A. D. KNOX LOCKING TYPE BLIND, SHUTTER, AND THE LIKEFiled May 5, 1941 Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICELOCKING TYPE BLIND, SHUTTER, AND THE LIKE 23 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in looking type blinds, shuttersand the like, and while hereinafter described as a Venetian blindassembly, it is to be understood that the invention has Widerapplication in the field of shutters, protective grills and likeburglarproof arrangements.

The invention contemplates and provides an improved locking blindassembly for blinds of the slat or blade type, wherein upon lowering ofthe blind the blades thereof can be locked against unauthorized raisingby simple, easily operated yet effective locking means.

According to a further feature of the invention, the locking means asaforesaid provides not only for the condition of locking the blades of alowered blind against raising movement while permitting them to befreely turned about their axis to any chosen position of adjustment, butalso makes provision for the locking of the blades against turning fromthe chosen position of adjustment. In the accomplishment of the latterfeature, the locking means are operable to place the blades of a loweredblind in tension to a degree precluding movement of the blades out oftheir position of adjustment and at the same time acting to preventspreading of the blades intermediate the ends thereof.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a locking means forblinds, shutters and the like, having three effective positions; namely,a release position in which the blind may be raised and lowered and theblades thereof tilted or adjusted about their respective axes inconventional manner; a first active position in which the locking meansfunctions to prevent raising of the lowered blind, while at the sametime permitting the blades to be freely tilted to any chosen position ofadjustment, and a second active position in which the blades in thechosen position of adjustment are tensioned longitudinally to a degreesufiicient to preclude unauthorized movement of the blades from theadjusted position, with the tensioning of the blades moreover serving toprevent spreading or prying apart of the blades intermediate the endsthereof.

The invention further aims to provide a novel means of ensuring theproper spacing as well as the distribution of the weight of the bladesof the lowered blind, for the purpose of assuring proper functioning ofthe locking means even under the condition where the tapes or equivalentblade hanging means have become stretched during continued use.

Further objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointedout in connection with the following analysis of this invention whereinis illustrated an embodiment of the invention in detail.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is illustrative of a window provided with alockin type Venetian blind in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through a portion of the window and blindillustrated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are sections taken through the side frame and bladelocking means with the latter in the release position permitting theblind to be operated in conventional manner;

Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C are corresponding sections but showing the lockingmeans in its first active position providing for the locking of theblind against raising while permitting the blades thereof to be turnedabout their respective axes;

Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C are corresponding sections with the locking meansshown in its second active position in which the blades are placed intension, thereby tolock the same against tilting 0r rotary movementabout their respective axes;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken through the lower end of the frameand illustrating the lock actuating means in a position corresponding tothe second active position of the locking means; and

Fig. 7 is a part longitudinal section through the side frame, thelocking means being only partially shown, illustrating a preferred meansfor guiding and spacing the blades of a blind.

Referring to the drawings wherein life reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views, reference character Itrepresents a window opening in a building wall, it being understood thatsuch is typical of any form of opening occurring in walls to be closedby a blind, shutter or like device. The opening is provided with awindow frame ll of conventional construction in which windows l2 aremounted. In the embodiment of the invention chosen for purpose ofillustration, th blind generally designated I3 is disposed on the innerside of the window and takes the form ofa Venetian blind employing aplurality of blades B adapted to be raised and lowered in conventionalmanner, as by the ropes 15, Figs. 1 and 2. Moreover, the blades aremounted for titlting or turning movement about their respective axes inconventional manner.

Arranged at each side of the window opening and on the inner side of thewindow thereof is a slide frame l6 as indicated in Figs. 30, 4C, and 5C.The frame is preferably of box-channel formation, the relatively frontwall of which is provided with a vertical slot Il extending the lengthof the frame. It will be understood that the vertical slots ll of thespaced frames open towards each other. Adjacent their ends, the bladesare each notched to provid flat necks I8 and terminal heads 2|], thelatter preferably having lesser width than the blade proper, and thearrangement being such that the heads 20 of all of the blades extendinto the spaced side frames of the assembly, with the blade neckstraveling in the frame slots 11.

By reference particularly to Figs. 2 and '7, each side frame carries onits rear wall, a forwardly opening guide channel 22 of general U-shape,and within the channel at spaced intervals along the length thereof aresecured a plurality of cross straps 24. These cross straps are eachspaced from the back wall of the guide channel a distance whichprogressively increases from top to bottom of the frame. Thus, byreference to Fig. '7, the distance L, representing the spacing betweenan upper cross strap and the rear wall of the guide channel 22 isgreater than distance L between the next lower cross strap andthe rearwall of the guide channel.

The cross straps 24 are spaced from each other a predetermined verticaldistance, such corresponding to the distance of about six of thebladesof the blind when the latter is in lowered position, every sixthblade being accordingly provided with a supporting shank 26 which is ofa length as to extend into the guide channel for support on a particularsupporting strap 24. To this end, the supporting shank 26 of the topmostblade shown in Fig. 7 is slightly longer than the shank 26 of the sixthblade therebeneath, such difference in length corresponding to thedifference of the spacings L and L. Hence, the arrangement issuch thatupon full lowering move- A 'I'nent of the blind, every sixth bladethereof is supported on its own strap 24, with the progressively lesserlength of the lower blade shanks permitting free lowering until thelower blade shanks engage their particular supporting straps.

With every sixth blade being supported in predetermined positions uponlowering of the blind, the weight of the lowered blind is distributed ata plurality of points in the frame, and accurate spacing of the bladesresults even though the connecting tapes extending between the bladeshave become stretched for one reason or another.

Also disposed in each of the side frames I6 is a pair of verticallydisposed locking members 3i,

'32, each operating in an actuating member of a pair 33, 34 thereof. Thelocking members prefably take the form of L-shaped angles, with theactuating members being shown as J-shaped channels. A pair of suchactuating members are vertically disposed within a side frame, and eachfills the space between a side flange of the guide channel 22 and therelated inner (or outer) wall of said frame, the long flanges ofthe'actuating members extending from front to rear of the frame channel.This arrangement provides for effective guiding of the actuating membersduring movement thereof.

Th L-shaped locking members 3|, 32-are each disposed so that on flangethereof extends into the channel of the companion actuating member, andits other or clasp flange extends towards the frame slot H, the claspflanges of the locking members of a pair being in the sameplane. Atspaced intervals along th edges of the related clasp flanges,registering semi-circular recesses 75 3la, 32a, are formed which, whenthe members 3|, 32 are moved to locking position, in which the claspflanges have edge engagement, form circular pockets, for the purpose tobe described.

The locking members upon actuation partake of two movements, the firstmovement being in a direction towards each other to a first activeposition in which the clasp flanges have edge engagement, thereby toform a vertical series of pockets enclosing the necks [B of the loweredblind to prevent raising thereof; and the second being movement axiallyof the blades during which the clasp flanges engage against theshoulders formed between the necks l8 and the end heads of the bladesand place the latter in tension. Preferable, the under faces of theclasp flanges which engage the blade heads are surfaced with frictioningmaterial 35 to provide noiseless engagement as well as friction grippingof the blade heads.

Movement of the locking members in a direction to and from each other iseffected as by providing on the relatively inner face of the outerflanges of the actuating members a plurality of wedges 38, arranged atspaced intervals along the length of the actuating members. When thelatter are in their full raised or release position, illustrated inFigs. 3A, 3B and 3C, the wedges are adapted to seat in correspondingslots 39 cut in the operating flanges of the locking members, saidmembers being normally held by upper and lower springs (not shown) inretracted position in which they seat against the related cuter flangesof the actuating members, Upon lowering of the actuating members to apredetermined position corresponding to the first active position of thelocking means, the wedges-38 have camming engagement with and bodilymove the locking members to a position in which their clasp flanges haveedge engagement as aforesaid, and as indicated in Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C.

Movement of the locking members axially of the blades is effectedthrough a pin and slot connection with the actuating members whereby, asthe latter are moved to their fully lowered position, corresponding tothe second active position of the locking means, the locking members aremoved in unison towards the rear of the side frames. The aforesaid pinand slot connection is provided by a plurality of pins 4!] extendingbetween the parallel flanges of the actuating member channels, said pinsextending through corresponding slots M formed in each of the operatingflanges of the locking members.

By reference to Figs. 3A, 4A, and 5A, slot 41 has a vertically extendingportion Ma and a forwardiy inclined portion 45?). As the actuatingmembers are lowered to an intermediate position corresponding to thefirst active position of the locking means, the pins :6 thereof travelalong the vertical portion 452 of the pin slot, with the result that norearward movement of the locking members occur. However, as theactuating members move from their intermediate to their fully loweredposition, the latter corresponding to the second active position of thelocking means, the pins 49 engage against the relatively rearward edgesof the inclined slot portions Nb and result in actuation of the lockingmembers in a relatively rearward direction.

The length of the slots 4| corresponds to the full vertical travel ofthe actuating members so that in release position the pins 49 engage inthe upper end of the slots, and in full lowered position engage againstthe lower end of the slot. Accordingly, for such extreme positions, thelooking members are positively maintained in their release or in fullactive position,

Means for operating the members 33, 34 are provided, one such meansbeing positioned so as to be readily operable from the lower end of eachside frame l6, although other positioning of the operating means ispossible. Referring to Figs. 3A, 4A, 5A and 6, the operating meansincludes a rotary shaft 45 journaled in the flanges of the guide channel22 for rotation about its own ends, the shaft carrying front and rearcranks 415, Lil. As an extension of the crank (it, there is provided acrank arm 48 which extends through a horizontally disposed slot d9formed in the relatively inner actuating member adjacent the lower endthereof. The crank arm is of sufficient length as to extend through therelatively inner flange of the side frame, and to accommodate for thearcuate path of movement of the crank arm, said inner flange is providedwith a semi-circular slot 5%]. Carried at the end of the crank arm is anoperating handle 5| which is hinged on itself at 52, the handleat itsfree end carrying a locking spindle 53, and a locking detent 54, theposition of which is controlled by a lock cylinder 55.

The relatively front crank 4'1 carries a crank arm be engaging in ahorizontal slot in the outer actuating member to correspond with theslot 49 of the inner actuating member.

With the handle opened to its operating position, and with the lockingmeans in its release position indicated in Figs. 3A, 3B and 30, theactuating members 33, 34 are in their fully raised position, and theblind is capable of operation in conventional manner. To actuate thelocking means from its release to its first active position, asaforesaid, the handle is given a 90 rotation to the position thereofillustrated in Fig. 4A, thus to effect movement of the actuating bars totheir intermediate position in which the locking members 39, 32 moveinto edge engagement, with the pockets thereof enclosing the blade necksI8 to preclude raising of the blind while permitting turning or tiltingmovement of the blades thereof about their respective axes.

Upon a further 90 rotation of the handle to its position illustrated inFig. 5A, the locking members, moving axially and in unison due to theirlike pin and slot connection with the actuating member, engage againstthe blade heads 21] and place the lowered blades in tension, when saidtensioned, movement of the blades from any chosen position of adjustmentis precluded. Moreover, the axial or rearward movement of the lockingmembers is predetermined to put the blades under suficient tension sothat spreading of the blades as by prying them apart intermediate theirends is substantially impossible of attainment.

Upon the actuating handle being rotated to its Fig. 5A position, thehandle may be hinged on itself and the lower portion thereof brought toits dotted line position, in which the locking spindle 53 and lockingdetent 54 are brought into registry with and passed into an opening 58provided in the relatively inner flange of the inner actuating member33, which, when said member is in its fully lowered position, in turnregisters with the upper end of the slot 50. Thereupon, by insertion ofa key into the lock cylinder, the spindle may be turned to cause thelocking detent to assume a locked position, and

by the subsequent withdrawal of the key the assemblyis locked in itssecond locking position, as aforesaid, until positively releasedtherefrom as by the reinsertion of the key and operation of the latter.

By the above described locking blind assembly, there is provided asimple, easily operated and effective arrangement for locking the bladesof a blind when in lowered position against raising movement, whilepermitting movement of the blades about their respective axes to adesired position of adjustment, and also for locking the blades of theblind against turning movement from their chosen adjusted position byplacing the blades in tension. Tensioning of the blades is itselfadvantageous in preventing the blades being spread or pried intermediatethe ends thereof.

The invention is of further advantage when it is considered that theblind can be operated in conventional manner with the locking thereofbeing optional. Moreover, the assembly provides for a selection of thelocking arrangements to meet individual conditions, under one of whichlocking of the blind against raising movement may suffice with anothercondition requiring locking of the blades against turning movement.

As above forecast, the invention has wider application than to thelocking of blades of Venetian blinds, as it is equally applicable to thelocking of grills, burglar-proof shutters and like devices wherein inaddition to the protection against unauthorized access a control oflight, air and privacy is desired. Further, by using blades made ofsteel or other strong indestructible material in a Venetian blindassembly the blind, in addition to its normal use, may act as aprotective grille, thus eliminating the necessity of fixed grills, barsor other mechanical burglarproof devices. Such a blind using steelblades could also serve to lock persons in a room or enclosure withoutthe psychological effect of barred windows.

Due to the positive control of blade position which the inventionprovides, it is also possible to apply the principles thereof to acombined blind and awning b the relatively simple expedient of hingingthe frames from the top of the opening so that they can be pushed outfrom the bottom of the opening to form an awning therefor.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with raisingand lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, and means operative uponlowering of the blind to tension the blades longitudinally, thereby tolock the blades in their adjusted position and to enable the blades toresist being spread apart intermediate their ends.

2. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with raisingand lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, and means operative uponlowering of the blind to lock the same against raising movement andthereupon to tension the blades longitudinally so as to enable theblades to resist being spread apart intermediate their ends.

3. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with raisingand lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, means operative upon lowering ofthe blind to lock the same against raising movement, said last meansbeing selectively operable to permit adjustment of the blades abouttheir respective axes and to restrain the blades against angularmovement out of any chosen position of adjustment.

4. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with raisingand lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, means actuable from an inactiveposition providing for conventional operation of the blind into anactive position providing for longitudinal tensioning of the blades ofthe blind upon lowering thereof thereby to lock the blind againstraising movement and to enable the blades to resist being spread apartintermediate their ends.

5. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with raisingand lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, means actuable from an inactiveposition providing for conventional operation of the blind to a firstactive position providing for the locking f the blind in loweredposition while permitting angular adjustment of the blades thereof abouttheir respective axes, and thence to a second active position providingfor th locking of the blades in a chosen position of adjustment and insuch manner as to resist spreading of the blades intermediate theirends.

6. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with raisingand lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about ti eir respective axes, side frames into which the endsof the blades extend, locking means operatively carried by the sideframes for cooperation with the blade ends extending thereinto, saidlocking means including members movable relatively towards each other toa blade locking position in which said members lock the blades and hencethe blind against raising movement, and means for moving said members toand from said position aforesaid.

7. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with raisingand lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, side frames into which the endsof the blades extend, and locking means operatively carried by the sideframes for cooperation with the blade ends extending thereinto, saidlocking means including a member movable from an inactive to a bladeengaging position and bein thereupon movable axially of the blades andin a direction as to tension the same longitudinally, and means formoving the member as aforesaid.

8. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with raisingand lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, side frames into which the endsof the blades extend, locking means carried by said side frames andincluding locking members relatively movable to a position in which theyoperate to lock the blind against raising movement, and means operativeupon movement of said members to said position for moving the membersaxially of the blades and in a direction as to tension the bladeslongitudinally.

9. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with raisingand lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, side frames into which the endsof the blades extend, clasp members mounted in said frame for movementto a blade clasping position and thereupon for movement axially of saidblades in a direction as to place the latter in tension, and means forselectively imparting the first only or both of said movements to saidmembers.

10. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided withraising and lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, side frames into which the endsof the blades extend, normally spaced locking members mounted withinsaid frame for movement from release to a looking position, said memberseach having provisions which in the locking position of said members asaforesaid form closed pockets enclosing the blade ends but permittingangular movement of the blades about their respective axes, andactuating means for moving the locking members from release to lockingposition.

11. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided withraising and lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, the blades having at each endthereof a fiat neck and a flat end head, side frames into which the endheads of the blades extend, normally spaced looking members mountedwithin said frame for movement from a release to a locking position, inwhich latter position said members have edge engagement, the memberseach having complemental recesses along their engaging edges which inthe aforesaid locking position provid closed pockets for the blade necksin which the blades are turnable about their respective axes, with theedge engagement of the members above said pockets functioning topreclude raising of the blades, and actuating means for moving thelooking members from release to locking position.

12. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided withraising and lowering means, the blades thereof being mounted for angularadjustment about their respective axes, the blades having adjacent eachend thereof a flat neck and a fiat end head, side frames into which theend heads of the blade extend, normally spaced locking members mountedwithin said frame for movement from a release to a first lockingposition, said members each having a plurality of complemental recessesadapted in the locking position aforesaid to provide closed pockets forthe blade necks in which the blades are turnable about their respectivaxes, said members being mounted for movement from said first to asecond locking position during which movement the locking members engageagainst the blade heads and place the blades in tension, and a singleactuating means for selectively moving the locking members from releaseto said first or to said second locking position.

13. A locking blind assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein saidactuating means includes actuating members guided for vertical movementand each having camming engagement with a locking member, and handleoperated means for moving the actuating bars vertically and in unison.

14, A locking blind assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein saidactuating means includes actuating members guided for vertical movementand each having camming engagement with a locking member, and handleoperated means for moving the actuating bars vertically and in unison.

15. A locking blind assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein saidactuating means includes actuating members mounted for vertical movementand each having camming engagement with a locking member to move thesame to said first locking position and also a pin and slot connectionwith said locking member for moving the latter to the second lockingposition, and handle operated means for actuating both said barsvertically and in unison.

16. A blind assembly comprising a blade-type blind, means for suspendingthe blades thereof, means for raising and lowering the blind, sideguides for the blind into which the ends of certain of the blades extendduring lowering thereof, and blade supporting means disposed at spacedintervals in said guides, each engageable by the ends of one particularblade extending thereinto whereby the assembly of blades upon loweringof the blind is supported at intervals along the length of the loweredblind.

17. A blind assembly comprising a blade-type blind, means for suspendingthe blades thereof, means for raising and lowering the blind, a guidechannel disposed at each side of the blind, each channel being providedat intervals along its length with cross supporting straps, certain ofsaid blades having supporting shanks each extending into said channelfor support by a particular cross strap, the spacing between each of thecross straps and the rear wall of the channel progressively increasingand the length of the blade shanks progressively decreasing from top tobottom of the blind whereby upon lowering of the blind certain of theblades are supported within said channel independently of the bladesuspending means.

18. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with aplurality of blades, and means for tensioning the blades longitudinallywhereby the blades resist being spread apart intermediate their ends.

19. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with aplurality of blades, and means for tensioning the blades longitudinallyan amount such that the blades resist being spread apart intermediatetheir ends.

20. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind, means mounting theblades thereof for angular adjustment about their respective axes, andmeans operative in all positions of adjustment of the blades fortensioning the same longitudinally whereby the blades resist beingspread apart intermediate their ends.

21. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind provided with aplurality of blades, and means operative to engage the blades adjacentthe ends thereof and to tension the same longitudinally whereby theblades resist being spread apart intermediate the ends thereof.

22. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind, side frames intowhich the ends of the blades extend, and means carried by said sideframe for tensioning the blades longitudinally whereby the blades resistbeing spread apart intermediate the ends thereof.

23. In a locking blind assembly, a blade-type blind, side frames intowhich the ends of the blades extend, means mounting the blades forangular adjustment about their respective axes, and means carried by atleast one of the side frames and operative in all positions ofadjustment of the blade for tensioning the same longitudinally wherebythe blades resist being spread apart intermediate the ends thereof.

ALEXANDER D. KNOX.

